Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

November 4, 2009

When Healing Never Comes

Wendy Blight

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
     
Devotion:

Today she is 16.  A newly licensed driver, varsity cheerleader, confident, strong, funny, and beautiful, inside and out.   

Then she was 13.  Sitting in a doctor's office, between tears and trembling, we heard these words: "scoliosis," "a curvature of the spine," "back brace," " 23 out of 24 hours a day," " two years." 

Words cannot explain life those next weeks and months as she faithfully wore her brace ... a brace that deformed her body, caused sleepless nights filled with pain and sorrow, and required her to quit something she loved: competitive cheerleading. 

Questions plagued her heart.  Why me, God?  What did I do, God? 

Questions plagued my mind.  Why her, God?  What did I fail to do?  Please take this from her and give it to me, Lord...PLEASE!!

I cried out for healing.  We obeyed Scripture.  Elders of the church prayed over her.  I laid hands on her and anointed her with oil.  Hundreds of women prayed for her healing. 

Healing never came.

Many nights she lay in my bed, locked in her brace, sobbing, asking, "Why me, Mom?"  I lay next to her, tears rolling down my cheeks, exhausted, feeling helpless, wondering how we would make it to the other side of this.

Healing never came.

Her back worsened despite the brace, so we tried alternative methods. 

Healing never came.

Oh, for a time, they kept her curve at bay—until six months ago. Her curve and the pain resulting from it had increased with astounding speed since then, until it reached the point that we had to face the reality of surgery.  A surgery that requires this precious child of mine to put her life on hold.  A surgery that means rods and screws will line her spine from top to bottom. A surgery that requires months and months of rehabilitation. A surgery that prevents her from ever tumbling again.

Healing never came ... or has it? 

At first glance I'd say "no" because the Lord did not heal in the way I so specifically and faithfully prayed. 

But, when I look at the promised result - it will straighten her spine and allow her to live pain free - I must say, "yes" healing is coming, just not in the way I hoped and prayed.

The passion of my heart, the call on my life, is to point others to find answers to their struggles, great and small, in the Word of God.  So what do I say to myself as I kneel before the Lord?  I allow the tears to come.  I shake my fist, asking why has it had to come to this? I ask why did He not choose MY way?

And then, I surrender. 

I take my own advice.

I go to His Word.  His Word that speaks sweetly to me:

"Wendy, trust Me with all your heart.  Do not lean on the knowledge of chiropractors, physical therapists, and others.  Do not lean on your fears.  Acknowledge Me, Wendy.  My Name.  My Power.  My Strength.  My Love.  I promised to direct your path, and I have.  This is the path I have led you to follow. Trust Me." (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

"Wendy, I do not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind."  (2 Timothy 1:7)

"Wendy, remember My ways are higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than yours...TRUST ME with her because I have a plan and I love her more than you will ever know." (Isaiah 55:

I wish I could tell you today that I am not afraid.  But I would be lying.  I am afraid.  I am afraid of the day they will roll her away to cut into her spine and insert foreign objects into her body.  But I can tell you that I trust my God, and I ask Him daily to help me with my unbelief. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word.  Thank You that it is TRUTH.  Father, for every woman whose heart aligns with mine today, direct us to Your Word. Speak truth into our circumstances.  Help us with our unbelief.  Help us take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  Fill our hearts and minds with whatever is lovely, true, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy.  Father cover us with Your wings.  Help us to fully trust in You.  I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

For more on this topic, listen to today's Radio Show, Valley of Grief

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story by Wendy Blight 

i am not but i know I AM by Louie Giglio

Visit Wendy's blog - Living Truth

Application Steps: 

If you have a struggle, take a few minutes today, go to God's Word, and ask Him to speak into your circumstances.  Note the verses to which He draws you and personalize them as I did above.  Pray them every day this week and watch what God will do. 

Reflections: 

Read the following verses and reflect on what they speak to your heart: Hebrews 4:16, Romans 10:17, and Hebrews 12:2.

Power Verse:

1 Corinthians 2:16, "For who has known the mind of the Lord that He may instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ." (NIV)

Isaiah 44:2, 21b, "Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not....I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me." (ESV)

© 2009 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 5, 2009

Rejection

Lysa TerKeurst

"For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."

Psalm 94:14 (NIV)

Devotion:

A few months back I got a phone call I'd been hoping for over 15 years to receive. It was the slightest crack in the doorway of a dream.

I was hesitantly excited. When you have wanted something for a long time and it comes close to becoming a reality, it's thrilling and terrifying all at the same time. Suddenly, your heart shifts from neutral into this vulnerable place where acceptance co-mingles with rejection. And you are all too aware things could go either way.

Following the call, I packaged up my application to send and let my mind prematurely celebrate.

Then I waited.

And waited.

And nothing.

Feeling like a foolish girl who'd bought a prom dress before actually being asked to the dance, I sheepishly called to inquire whether or not my application had been received. I was told it had been and if I hadn't heard anything yet, I should assume it was a "no."

Ouch.

That's when you go sit on your back deck, close your eyes, and decide whether to let the tears slip quietly down your cheeks or blink them back in an act of courageous defiance.

Rejection stinks.

I mean it really stinks.

It stunk when Saxon Palmer didn't ask me to couple skate in the 5th grade. It stunk when my Dad left our family. It stunk when I thought I was getting engaged at the very dinner my college love broke up with me. It stunk when each of my book proposals for years were declined by publishers. And it stunk when I sat on my deck and processed this situation.

Sometimes things like this just simply stink and there's no cheery rainbow or pot of gold around the next corner. The music doesn't crescendo as the hero in the story scoops you onto the side of his horse and the two of you ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after.

Sometimes it just is what it is. And that's that.

But God's girls have a beautiful promise tucked in our pocket that lets us smile even when tears puddle in the corner of our eyes. Even when there's no rainbow, pot of gold, or galloping prince, we have the promise of redemption.

On the other side of every death there will always be a resurrection of some sort. Maybe not a resurrection of our circumstances. And maybe not a resurrection of things lining up like we thought they should. But there will be a resurrection. Jesus has insured that.

Nothing in this world can permanently strip hope from our lives when we know we do "not follow cleverly invented stories...about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" but we follow the reality of the Risen One (2 Peter 1:16, NIV). He is our resurrection.

He is our hope.

He is that beautiful reminder that rejection from man never means rejection from God.

And He is the one who is weaving a story into our life that will one day make sense.
                                                                                                                                                                       
Dear Lord, I know You suffered the sting of rejection in a much more intense way than I ever will.  And while this rejection is small in the grand scheme of life, it feels huge in my heart right now.  Will You help me process this?  Will You help me see past it?  Will You let this fragile heart feel the warmth of Your acceptance and love today? In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's blog to talk about keeping our identity secure even when circumstances make us doubt.

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst

P31 Woman magazine

Application Steps: 

The reality is our identity in Christ is always certain even when circumstances are constantly shifting.  We must park our mind on the truth of who God says we are.  Read Lysa's blog today for more on how to do this.

Reflections: 

How can I separate my identity from my circumstance? Spend some time contemplating this today.

Power Verses:

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NIV) 

Isaiah 54:10, "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 6, 2009

Serving Rolls and Switching Roles

Karen Ehman

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:15-16 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

"Mommy....look at her eat that turkey and mashed potatoes! She must be sooooo hungry!" my then four-year-old daughter Mackenzie whispered in my ear. Her eyes were riveted on a beautiful, chubby-fingered toddler. The child's coiled chestnut hair nearly cascaded into her plate as she leaned forward and eagerly consumed her holiday meal, complete with all the trimmings.

On Thanksgiving Day that year, my husband and I opted to skip the normal extended-family holiday feast and instead signed up to serve at a soup kitchen in the heart of the inner city.  We took our preschool daughter along. Since then, all three of our children have had several opportunities to don an apron and serve mothers and fathers; children and grandparents; precious people who normally don't enjoy a well-rounded, home-cooked and piping-hot meal.

We often choose to serve a noontime meal at the soup kitchen while we skip breakfast ourselves that morning. As a result, our stomachs growl and our mouths water as we pass out the relishes, serve the rolls, or scoop the sweet potato casserole. After serving we discuss how, in a very small sense, we are switching places with the people we are ministering to that day. We get a tiny glimpse of their hungry plight.

Many of them live at poverty level. Some are homeless. For them, the noontime meal at the soup kitchen is the only hot nourishment they receive each day. They are accustomed to going hungry while watching well-fed others around them.

Our family has experienced financial struggle, to a much lesser degree, over the past year. My husband was laid off last Christmas Eve and spent over 9 months waiting to get called back to work. During this budget-tightening time, our children learned to go without; to see others acquire what we could not afford. To make ends meet, we ate more simply at home, and cut out restaurant trips. We bought only the clothing necessities on sale at deep discounts or at a resale shop. We learned what it was like to live at an economic level that was less than what we were used to.

And God was faithful. Many dear friends helped to lighten our load by giving us food, gift cards, and gas vouchers. They helped to smooth the rough bumps in our financial load.

So often, as in today's key verse, it is easy to talk the talk, yet utterly fail to walk the walk. What good is it to say, "I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but do nothing about another's physical needs? What is the point of declaring, "God bless so-and-so" in our prayers, yet never lifting a finger to bless "so-and-so" ourselves?   

Let's vow together to put feet to our prayers; to love on people in tangible ways.  Let's commit to step out of our comfort zones and help others enjoy the necessities and pleasures we often take for granted.  Even during our own financially difficulties, we can volunteer our time or offer someone a needed hug.

This holiday season, let's try switching roles and serving rolls. I'm convinced if we do, we'll experience the immense privilege of being Jesus to a hurting soul.
                                                                                                                                                                     
Dear Lord, help me to not just say I care about others. Give me an opportunity to physically love and serve them, giving credit only to You. It is an honor to be Your hands and feet. I am ready. I am willing. I want to love and serve like You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

A Life that Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

Homespun Gifts from the Heart by Karen Ehman

To discover more ideas for blessing others during the holidays and to be entered in a Thanksgiving giveaway, visit Karen's blog

Application Steps: 

Put your creative cap on and do a little brainstorming. What are some tangible ways you and your family could reach out to those affected by our current sluggish economy during the upcoming holiday season? List three or four ideas and purpose to enact one.

Who are some friends you could include in such a "blessing adventure?" Think of others you could invite to serve those struggling financially at this time of year. Make a few phone calls or meet for coffee to plan your strategy.

Reflections: 

How might you introduce others to Jesus as you serve at this time of year?

Power Verses:

James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV) 

Matthew 25:43-45, "'I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" (NIV)

© 2009 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 9, 2009

Communing Over Chaos

Whitney Capps

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4 (NIV)

Devotion:

I am out-going and chatty. I like to make fun of myself. I love to laugh. I enjoy being with people - until I don't. You see, at heart I am an introvert. At some point I can sense my energy waning. I begin to crave quiet, silence and solitude.

This is why I cherish quiet time with the Lord. I love the stillness of sitting and reading the Word or a book that turns my heart toward Jesus. My husband knows that one way to fill my love tank is to give me an evening of going out to dinner alone: just me, Jesus and a good book. (All you extroverts just cringed at the thought of eating alone didn't you?) Don't get me wrong, I adore my family, but I need mental white space.

However, with three kids under age four, quiet time with the Lord is an endangered species. I don't often get to go the bathroom by myself. If the water closet isn't a quiet place, you can imagine the chaos that follows me to my prayer closet.

For a few months after our youngest was born I lived in a spiritual desert. My soul was parched. I was desperate for quiet time with Jesus and prayed earnestly for God to help me find time to be alone with Him. Faithfully, He always provided, but often my tired and flesh-wrapped spirit dozed off in prayer or got distracted by other things.

I couldn't consistently make it work. After several months of mostly failed attempts, I cried out to God, "I don't know how to be alone with You!"

"Daughter, you don't have to be alone with Me. Just be with Me. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you."

Rather than give up on being with Jesus because it's not like it used to be, my Savior is asking me to abide with Him all day. God has ordained this season of my life and He knows even better than I do how much my children demand of me. In the clamor of the sword fights and confusion in the playroom, He is my hiding place.

I am learning to seize each moment, and see it as an opportunity to fellowship with Jesus.  While my kids recite "God is great; God is good," I have a chat with Jesus.  When I feel alienated from girlfriends, I read a magazine article. P31 Woman and Today's Christian Woman magazines are spiritual lifeboats for me in this season. While my kids do art at the kitchen table, I read a psalm or two. Whenever possible I try to have praise music playing in our house. Sometimes singing those lyrics is the closest my heart may come to meaningful prayer time all day.

Please hear me. I am not suggesting that these brief moments should replace consistent, focused times of prayer and Bible study. Those habits are hallmarks of Christian discipleship and growth. I am learning, however, to rethink my ideas on fellowship with Jesus. In this season of my life it's not so much the quantity of quiet reflection as it is the steady communing over chaos. But hey, at least we are together!

Father, Your daughter longs to be with You. Remind me of Your constant presence. May I seize opportunities to enjoy You throughout my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Join us for more Everyday Life encouragement

Real Moms, Real Jesus

P31 Woman magazine

Whitney's blog - Speak When Spoken Through

Application Steps: 

Look for ways in your day to carve out time alone with God. Examine first how you spend your free time.

Is it possible that activities like television watching or surfing the internet should be cut back or eliminated to make time for Jesus?

Reflections: 

Study John 15. Assign times of your day where you can practice abiding with Christ.

Power Verses:

John 15:7-8, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (NIV) 

© 2009 by Whitney Capps. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 10, 2009

The Battles Within

Marybeth Whalen

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1 (NIV)

Devotion:

Our verse for today gets to the root of why my husband and I get in arguments: the desires that battle within me. Desires I wish weren't there. Desires that are ugly and selfish and petty. Desires that motivate me to seek my own way. Desires that battle within me, then spill over into my actions.

There is a battle raging within each of us. It is a battle between flesh and Spirit, between reaching out and focusing inward, between living for Christ and living for ourselves. How can we find victory in these battles without claiming more casualties? I have found there are several ways:

Praying: James 4:2 goes on to say, "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." James is telling us how to avoid fights. Take our unmet needs, desires, expectations and complaints to God. We don't need to expect our husbands, children, neighbors, co-workers or friends to fulfill our every need.

Walking in truth: It's easy to believe the lies of the enemy or our flesh: If you were only married to someone else, you'd have a better life. If he would clean up after himself, you wouldn't have so much work to do. No one around here appreciates you. The lies escalate the battles. We spiral quickly into feelings of self-pity and anger. Instead we can learn to recognize those lies and refocus on Truth—God's Truth. We can go to His Word and read what He has to say about the people we love and the position we are in. Psalm 26:2-3 says, "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind, for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

Taking each thought captive: 2 Corinthians 10:5b tells us that we are to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." There are two action verbs in this statement: take and make. These are strong words that indicate effort. It's not something we can sit back and hope will happen. It's something we have to be intentional and insistent about. When our thoughts start wandering down those dangerous "if only" paths, we can instead find a fork in the road and change direction, remembering who Christ is and how He lived His life on earth—as a loving, humble servant.

Being silent: I have often regretted my speech. In the heat of battles, I've found it is almost always better to walk away and pray. If I feel I have been wronged then I need to ask my Father to defend me. If I feel that battle still waging inside me then I know it's time to ask Him to quiet my heart. Being silent is hard work! But I know that my silence is not as likely as my angry words to hurt the people I care about. Proverbs 17:28 says, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

When the battles rage within us, we can change the results and stop the arguments that ensue. It's up to us to pause and choose a different reaction. I hope these things will help us today as we rise to the challenge!
                                                                                                       
Dear Lord, please help me to remember to pray, to walk in truth, to take each thought captive and to be silent. Help me honor You when the battles rage inside me. I don't want to fight with the people I love and I need You to help me with that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue and accompanying Workbook by Deborah Smith Pegues

The Reason We Speak General Editor Marybeth Whalen

Visit Marybeth's blog - Cheaper by the Half Dozen

Application Steps: 

In your journal, write down the four things you can do when you feel those battles raging inside you. Spend time praying and thinking about how you will do these things instead of being angry.

Reflections: 

Think about the last argument you had. What battle was raging within you when it happened? What would have changed if you had done the things listed in today's devotion?

Power Verses:

I Peter 2:11, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (NIV) 

Galatians 5:16, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (NIV)

© 2009 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 11, 2009

The Power of Encouragement
Renee Swope

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Devotion:
I hate open heights.  I can't stand balconies, and when driving across a bridge, you'll find me hugging the rail along the inside lane.

Some friends tried to help me conquer my fear of heights by inviting our family to an indoor rock-climbing center. My heart stopped as we entered the doors and I scanned the highest peak at 25 feet!  The instructors assured me that a web of ropes and harnesses would hold me tight.  Before I could say "no thank you," I was strapped in and signing an injury waiver.

Towards the end of the day, our friends John and Laura encouraged their eight-year-old son Steven to climb to the highest peak - promising tokens and ice cream if he did it.  Steven was afraid of heights, too, but he loved a dare.  The promise of reward, mixed with the challenge and faith of his father evoked courage in him.

I watched with admiration as Steven started the climb with confidence.  He made it to 10 feet, then 15, then 20.  But as he inched past the next face of the wall, he saw how far he still had to go.  In fear, he looked down with tears and claimed he couldn't do it.  Then he cried out for his daddy's help.

By this time, Steven's dad was holding their very tired 3-year-old and his mom was feeding their hungry baby girl.  I don't know where my brave husband was, but I quickly realized I was the only one standing there who could do something.

Suddenly courage and strength surged through my body and I called out, "Don't give up buddy.  You can do it. I'll help you!"

In record time, I reached the 20-foot marker, crossed over the peak and came up beside Steven to encourage him, reminding him of how far he'd come.  I told him he could do it with God's strength and that it would be worth it if he'd persevere. With my words and my confidence in him, I helped Steven turn his thoughts towards a higher goal, an inner peak, a reward much greater than ice cream and game tokens - the reward of getting to a place he had stopped believing he could reach.

Funny how I stopped thinking about my fears when I was focused on encouraging someone else to overcome theirs. I realized that the same promises I had claimed for Steven were true for me, too. I could do it with God's strength, and I did!

Each day we have the same opportunity. Like God did with Joshua in today's key verse and like He does with us, we can come alongside each other in some of life's hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, "Don't give up, you can do it. I'll be with you and help you."

When we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and focus on someone else's needs, we somehow forget our own, for a little while. In believing the power of God's promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well.

Lord, Thank you for the power of Your Words that give me courage to become who You've created me to be - to go to places You're calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement today, and help me encourage someone, too.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Renee's Blog for more encouragement today!

Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child CD and Character Chart - a message and method for parents to see the power of encouraging words in the lives of their kids, by Renee Swope

Girlfriends' Road Trip - a message on CD about building Godly friendships, by Renee Swope

Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, by Jennifer Rothschild

Application Steps:

Ask God to encourage your heart today with a promise from His Word that offers hope and power in the midst of your circumstances.

Write a note, leave a message or send an email with a promise and a prayer to someone who needs encouragement.

Reflections: 

How has someone's encouraging words impacted my life in the past?  How has God's words of encouragement helped me do things I never thought I could?

Power Verses:

Psalm 69:32, "The humble will see their God at work and be glad.  Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.'" (NLT)

Deuteronomy 3:28, "But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." (NIV)

Psalm 10:17, "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, (NIV)

© 2009 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 12, 2009

Please Interrupt Me

Lysa TerKeurst

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

Devotion:

I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness. 

The other day I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never ending to do list.  As I was sitting at a stoplight a friend called me and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school's uniform policy.  She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who'd just dropped her son off at school.  She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.

Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him.  But, the belt would be a problem.  The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one.  She lives over 20 minutes from the school.

As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right.  That store has belts.  That store has lunch food.  I was faced with a decision.  Could I help?  Well, I could but my schedule would have to be rearranged a bit.  Would I help?  My friend wasn't asking but in that moment I knew it would be a tremendous blessing for her.

This day I wouldn't let my busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions and opportunities to love.  So, I helped.

I don't know this for sure but I suspect my friend had been asking Jesus to please help her.  It's hard being up half the night with a sleepless baby.  It's hard to find a new normal when life gets a little off kilter by changes in the family dynamic.  It's hard when you need help but feel like everyone is so busy you hate to bother them.

Now, I'll admit, I'm a task-oriented person so it doesn't come naturally for me to look for ways to be interrupted in the midst of my busyness.  But sitting at that stoplight, I realized the power of pausing.  Pausing just long enough for Jesus to tap on the edge of my heart and say, "Could you?  Would you?  Do this as if it's the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption."

The Bible teaches one of the most important precepts is love.  When we love others we are living the message of Jesus.  And listen to what Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." 

Oh how many times have I missed the joy of pausing to live and love and light the world for Jesus? 
                                                                                                                                                                     
Dear Lord, help me to pause today and remember my great witnessing tool is to simply be available to love others.  Show me where I can love.  Make me courageous enough to step aside my carefully planned to do list and look for ways to be an answer to the prayers someone has prayed today.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's blog for a fun contest to win a gift for you and one to share with a friend!

Speaking of friends... we'd like to invite you to the girlfriend's get-away of a lifetime!  Join Lysa TerKeurst, Karen Kingsbury, Angela Thomas, Renee Swope and some other gals from Proverbs 31 Ministries for the Girl's Getaway Cruise in 2010!  It's surprisingly affordable and just the getaway we girls need to get recharged and refocused.  For more information, click here.

And if you are looking for a great Bible Study to do with your girlfriends, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst is a great one to consider.

Application Steps: 

Spend some time praying about an opportunity to be interrupted today.  Remember when the interruptions come...connect them with the prayer you prayed and enjoy your experience of God.

Reflections: 

Is there anyone in my life that is currently going through some changes where I could practically lend a hand?

How can I create some more white space in my life to make myself more available to help others?

Power Verses:

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs." (NIV)

Psalm 19:8, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." (NIV) 

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

November 13, 2009

The Unique One

Amy Carroll

"You shall have no other gods before me."

Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
     
Devotion:

Are there really 330 million gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion? How can that be true? I wondered as I prepared for my trip to India.  I began to think surely that number was made up by some cynical Christian, but as I read through a secular source the number was confirmed.  Even so, I was completely unprepared for the overwhelming influence of idol worship in the culture of Calcutta.

There were idols of gods and goddesses everywhere I looked.  There were idols at the entrance to the hotel, at the archway into the dining room and in booths all along the streets.  Everything had religious significance.  From fashion—the dots on women's foreheads and the bangles on their arms—to transportation, where the drivers had a goddess on their dashboard for safety.  I started asking about each idol.  "This is the god of milk," one store owner explained.  "That is the goddess of candy," said a waiter.  Suddenly I began to understand how there could be so many gods and goddess.  Everything within my sight and senses had an idol attached to it.

This was hard to process for an American raised in a culture that is mostly monotheistic.  I felt a little tug of pride until I began to think about the idols of my own country: wealth, leisure, youthfulness, work, children, power.  The idols that surround me in America may be invisible.  There may not be temples built to them with a beautifully sculpted statue in the center where offerings and sacrifices are laid.  But America definitely has idols.

The Christian pastors in Calcutta explained to us that it is difficult to share the Gospel of Jesus with Hindus.  Many times a Hindu will respond receptively to the Good News of Jesus with this sort of response, "Sure, I'll accept Jesus and add Him to all my other household gods and goddesses."  It's difficult for a Hindu to understand and accept Jesus as the One and Only, so the pastors preach about the uniqueness of Christ.

While in Calcutta, I learned of the beautiful ceremony of baptism for new Indian believers. The new Christians line up their idols at the edge of the baptismal pool.  They turn their backs on the idols to be baptized, and then the idols are disposed of.  The exquisite symbolism of this practice pierced my heart.

I began to ask myself, Have I turned my back on my idols?  Have I trusted and believed in Jesus more than anything else in my life?  Do I value Christ as uniquely sufficient, or have I just added Him to my list of comforts and priorities?

I thought back to the year when my family had moved into a house that was badly in need of renovation.  As a lover of all things decorative, I plunged head first into paint swatches, wallpaper books and HGTV.  One morning when I finally had a quiet time with the Lord, He spoke to my heart that I had an idol that needed demolishing.  An idol? God clearly showed me that feathering my nest had become my number one priority and had displaced Him in my heart.  He asked me to fast from all the things that fed my decorating addiction for a year.

Sadly, I cancelled my subscriptions to Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living.  My husband even agreed to cancel our cable subscription so I wouldn't have access to HGTV.  The reward came as my heart's desire turned back to Jesus, the Unique One.  I turned my back on my idols and their consumption of my time and focus was demolished.

When the year was up, I sought God's direction and permission to re-subscribe to my magazines and decorating shows.  Knowing He had re-ordered my heart and taken up preeminence in my life, I felt His approval. My idol had been cast down, and I was able to enjoy these things as God's gifts put back in their proper place.

Dear Lord, help me to identify the hidden, invisible idols in my life.  It is my heart's cry that I would put You first, above and over all.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

For encouragement on laying idols down, listen to today's Radio Show, Bring it to Me

Come Along: The Journey into a More Intimate Faith by Jane Rubietta

Pierced by the Word by John Piper

Visit Amy's blog - Ponderings from the Pathway

Application Steps: 

Do You Know the One and Only?

Read the Gospel of John and fall in love with Jesus as the Unique One.

Reflections: 

Are there things in my life that have become idols?

What do I need to do to remove them?

Power Verses:

Exodus 20:3-6, "You shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (NIV) 

© 2009 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

Today, I am giving you a


DAILY SURVIVAL KIT

to help you each day............


Toothpick ... to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.



Rubber band ... to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.


Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.


Eraser ... to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That's okay, we learn by our errors.


Candy Kiss ... to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.


Mint ... to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family & Me.


Bubble Gum ... to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.


Pencil ... to remind you to list your blessings every day.


Tea Bag ... to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of God's blessings.


This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day

[Judy Harder]

November 16, 2009

Being the Stillness

Bonnie Grove, She Reads Featured Author

"Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great."

Job 2:13 (NASB)

Devotion:

I have sought comfort in the book of Job many times in my life. After I buried my infant son, I asked, "Why?" God reminded me that when Job asked the same question His answer was, "Who?"

While laying on a hospital bed knowing for certain I would lose the twins I had carried only a few precious months, God reminded me how in the midst of Job's suffering, God came. And in the whirlwind He answered. Not right away, not in Job's time, but in God's time - the perfect time when Job's heart could take in the words of healing.

In the years following those dark events, I trained in theology, counseling and psychology. I was on a quest to understand my brokenness, and that of others. I'm still on that quest, though my formal training is behind me.

One evening, I was in conversation with a man who was going through a divorce and was in obvious pain. He spoke of his daughter, and how his hopes for the future had been destroyed. When he finished speaking I sat in silence, knowing I had no great words to offer. Spent from telling his story, he too sat quietly.

Our silence stretched into minutes. Then, the man began to cry. I sat with him, keeping his tears company, and still said nothing. More minutes passed, and the man said, "That's the first time I've cried since this whole mess started." Then he said something surprising: "You've helped me so much. Thank you."

The silence had changed something for him. From my perspective, the silence was a result of my limitations as a counselor - I was empty handed. But it became clear to me there was something powerful at work. I remembered how Job's friends sat in silence with him for seven days and nights. With that in mind, I began to pay close attention to silence. I found that by being quiet, I could better understand my thoughts, fears, hopes, and desires. And in my long silences I was able to sense God's presence and hear His voice. When I sat with the man going through a divorce I listened to him without interruption. Then, by saying nothing, I helped him listen to what God had to say to him.

There are astounding lessons to be learned from the act of listening. I have learned that listening is an act of love. It is not passive; it is intentional, engaging with the heart and mind of another person. To listen you must turn off all outside distractions; say "no" to the world rushing by you. A sacred act of deliberate silence and meaningful pause, listening helps people clear a space in their life, heart, and mind in order to simply "be." Our listening is an important gift. I am learning to make it my first response. Through listening I want to provide the stillness God speaks into.

Dear Lord, bring me into a deeper silence before You, that I may hear Your voice, and in hearing, believe, and in believing, listen to the heart of others. When people hurt Lord, let me first offer them my listening, not my advice. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit with Bonnie today, where she will be a guest at the She Reads blog

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove is a She Reads selection!

When Your Marriage Dies: Answers to Questions about Separation and Divorce by Laura Petherbridge

Find encouragement in God's peace on today's Radio Show - How Difficulties Affect Us

Application Steps: 

Practice stillness in your prayer life. Sit quietly; offer the sacrifice of love by listening long to what the Lord has to say to you today.

Practice stillness in your relationships. Begin to pay attention to the silences around you and offer yourself to a friend through the act of listening.

Reflections: 

Do you believe God will meet you in your silence?

Can you recall a time when you listened as an act of love to a friend or family member?

Power Verses:

Habakkuk 2:20, "But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him." (NASB) 

Psalm 46:10-11, "Be still and know that I am God....The LORD Almighty is with us." (NIV)

© 2009 by Bonnie Grove. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org